Promoting the emotional wellbeing of pupils is the guiding principle of the proposed Worle and Westhaven Schools Trust.
The two schools are part of a six-strong federation formed to address issues of underachievement and low progression to further and higher education – a reflection of the high level of social deprivation not unusual in seaside towns.
Worle headteacher, Trevor Bailey, said 'It’s about meeting the Every Child Matters agenda. There’s a link between the emotional wellbeing of a learner and their resilience as a learner...It was a natural progression to look at Trust status.'
External partners include the North Somerset Primary Care Trust (PCT), North Somerset Council, University of the West of England, the Bristol-based charitable company ViTaL (Values in Teaching and Learning) and the Human Givens Institute, an organisation that focuses on mental and emotional wellbeing.
Key partners in the trust are the Human Givens Institute and the PCT. Westhaven headteacher, Jenny Moss, explains 'There are some forces in children’s lives that put a glass ceiling on their achievement, and that is frequently emotional wellbeing...We need to put some structures and support in place to help meet their needs but also move out into the community to support their parents. '